Coopers Gap Wind Farm a step closer to getting on the grid

COOPERS Gap Wind Farm is one step closer to connecting to the electricity grid after the completion of the nearby substation.

Publicly owned transmission operator Powerlink has energised the new 275kV substation that will connect one of Australia's largest wind farms to the electricity grid and its 9 million Australian energy users.

Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the substation's completion was a major milestone for the project near Kingaroy.

"Coopers Gap will generate up to 440MW of renewable energy, the equivalent of powering a city the size of Ipswich," Dr Lynham said.

"Queensland has led the way with large-scale solar farm development, but ongoing work at the Coopers Gap Wind Farm highlights the expansion of wind power."

The economic benefits of large-scale renewable projects are far-reaching.

ENERGY: The substation near Coopers Gap Wind Farm is now complete and ready to connect the wind farm to the electricity grid.Contributed

"Coopers Gap is just one of more than $5 billion worth of large-scale renewable energy projects that are operational, committed or under way in Queensland," Dr Lynham said.

Coopers Gap was projected to create up to 200 jobs in total during construction, in addition to Powerlink's grid connection work supporting 52 jobs.

Once the 23 wind turbines are installed and generating power later in the year, the substation will step up the voltage from 33kV to 275kV.

This process will enable electricity to be efficiently transported via Powerlink's existing Western Downs to Halys transmission line and into the statewide transmission network.

The substation will effectively delives clean energy produced in Queenslnad to the National Electricity Market.

Powerlink acting chief executive Kevin Kehl said Powerlink was proud to play a key role in connecting one of Australia's largest wind farms to the electricity grid.